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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Industry News

Link: CRTC chairman knocks Rogers, Shaw for axing video streaming service Shomi

From Emily Jackson of the Financial Post:

Link: CRTC chairman knocks Rogers, Shaw for axing video streaming service Shomi
Jean-Pierre Blais, the head of Canada’s telecom regulator, took a swipe at two telecommunications giants for killing their nascent video streaming service in an age in which the Internet has disrupted traditional platforms and the “viewer is emperor.”

In a speech in Ottawa Wednesday, Blais revealed he was shocked at the September news that Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. planned to shutter Shomi, a joint venture in which the cable companies had sunk hundreds of millions of dollars. Continue reading. 

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Masterchef Canada

Home cooks and their families face off in MasterChef Canada: All-Star Family Edition

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From a media release:

CTV is cooking up a feast of MASTERCHEF programming, and it all begins with the television event MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION, premiering Monday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The two-hour CTV Original Special brings together past MASTERCHEF CANADA winners, their families, and some special guests to compete for $10,000 for the charity of their choice. The home cooks returning to the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen are Season 1 winner Eric Chong, Season 2 winner David Jorge, Season 3 winner Mary Berg, and MASTERCHEF CANADA: A HOLIDAY SPECIAL winner Pino DiCerbo.

MASTERCHEF CANADA judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile will serve up four nail-biting challenges, and decide which teams face elimination and which ones move forward. The special also airs Monday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on Gusto. As with 2014’s MASTERCHEF CANADA: A HOLIDAY SPECIAL, MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION was created by Proper Television in collaboration with CTV and Endemol Shine Group.

In MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION, four MASTERCHEF CANADA champions are joined by their families to compete in four increasingly difficult culinary challenges: the Better-Half Skills Race, the Mother and Child Mystery Box, the Bossy Sibling Coaching Challenge, and the Family Feast Team Cook. Over the course of the two-hour special, select family members will compete alongside Eric, David, Mary, and Pino, as they work to impress the judges with their creativity and skill. The family who cooks their way to victory will win the first MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION and $10,000 for their chosen charity.

The MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION teams are:

#TeamEric (Blue Apron)
MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 1 Winner Eric Chong joins the competition with his mother Zena, girlfriend Jenn, and brother Andrew. Eric entered Season 1 with a recent engineering degree. His parents did not want him to pursue cooking, but claiming the MASTERCHEF CANADA title helped him win their support. Eric is now chef and co-owner of R&D, the successful Toronto restaurant he opened with MASTERCHEF CANADA judge Alvin Leung. #TeamEric is competing for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

#TeamDavid (Red Apron)
David Jorge, the winner of MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2, was a high school dropout and concrete worker who dreamed of something more. After his victory he opened S+L Kitchen and Bar in Langley, BC, in partnership with the Joseph Richard Group, and has two more restaurant projects on the go. David is joined in the kitchen by his mother Maria, brother Kevin, wife Tanis, and sons JJ and Nuno. #TeamDavid is competing for the Surrey Food Bank.

#TeamMary (Green Apron)
Season 3’s winning home cook Mary Berg is competing with her new husband Aaron, brother Michael, and her mom Myra. Following her win, Mary left her job as an insurance broker and started her own catering company, Perfect Day Events. #TeamMary is competing for the SickKids Foundation.

#TeamPino (Purple Apron)
Pino DiCerbo, winner of MASTERCHEF CANADA: A HOLIDAY SPECIAL, is no longer a stay-at-home dad. He now offers private chef services via Chef Pino Di Cerbo’s Cucina Rustica and cohosts a YouTube cooking show with his mother Filomena. Pino will be joined again by his mom, sister Ange, wife Anna, and sons David and Adam. #TeamPino is competing for Brandan’s Eye Research Foundation.

The culinary season continues on CTV following the premiere of MASTERCHEF CANADA: ALL-STAR FAMILY EDITION with the return of MASTERCHEF JUNIOR for its fifth season in February 2017 as a new batch of talented kids showcase their skills in the kitchen and passion for food. MASTERCHEF CANADA is also set to return in Winter 2017 for Season 4 with a new group of talented home cooks from across the country. Viewers looking to satisfy their hunger for MASTERCHEF CANADA before the series returns can stream all past seasons on CraveTVâ„¢.

The MASTERCHEF format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.

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Kim's Convenience

Link: Taking Stock Of TV’s ‘Kim’s Convenience’

From D.K. Latta of the Huffington Post:

Link: Taking Stock Of TV’s ‘Kim’s Convenience’
One can quibble whether the series is truly the first Canadian series to feature a predominantly Asian cast. It was preceded by Omni TV’s crime drama, Blood and Water (which also featured Liu as the son of immigrants), and some years earlier by the memorable CBC cops n’ mobsters mini-series, Dragon Boys. But certainly by virtue of being on a major network, an open-ended format, and the populist idiom of a sitcom, Kim’s Convenience is hoping to put a pin in the map of Canada’s evolving pop cultural landscape. Continue reading.

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Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls: Slaying their dragons … er … bears!

Well, look at our Mohawk Girls go! If you recall, last week Bailey (Jenny Pudavick) was turned down for an internship at a travel zine. It also looked like Team Cailon (Heather White and Dwain Murphy)  might be over. Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne) was determined to conquer her sexual addictions and Anna (Maika Harper) was on a quest to find a replacement for Thunder.  All four had their challenges set before them and it seemed this week they were out to slay their bears.

Episode 4 featured lots of girlfriend time. Rarely do we see all four ladies gathered together in more than one scene per episode. And what do women talk about when they all get together? Yep, you know it! The men, or in Anna’s case a lack thereof, in her life. She has yet to find a replacement for Thunder (Kyle Nobess). After Anna’s hot mess performance, Bailey, Caitlin and Zoe all dished out dating advice. One thing is for certain: “Fauxhawk” is determined she’ll never again be called “Hatgirl.” Her contestant this week came in the guise of Midas (Tanner Novlan), the latest unattached potential sperm donor who is free of any baby mama baggage. Her evening was cut short with the appearance of none other than Thunder, but in his official capacity as an officer of the law arrived to break up the party.

During their “Wedding Boot Camp” session, the girls rehashed Bailey’s career dilemma. Their discussions revolved around the merits of learning to speak French a.k.a. “the language of the oppressors.” But it is decided: Bailey is determined to learn French. She dove in and James (Jeffrey Wetsch) offered to give Bailey some private tutelage following  the weekly art lessons. I sense some complications on Bailey’s horizon!

Caitlin has begun her personal hairdressing business, but the joy is lost since she believes Leon is out of her life. She is convinced he is too good for her anyway. Zoe drags her out to the bar for a super fun time and who should appear with flowers in hand? Luscious Leon! And, as I suspected, Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) is NOT impressed he has been replaced. Fists flew in a very nicely filmed action scene and Leon was the victor. But this very public declaration meant Caitlin’s dirty little secret was out. You can be sure ALL of Kahnawa:ke knows now!

And, finally, Zoe. Alas, it seems only three of our four ladies are making some sort of headway in their lives whilst Zoe has slipped back into her old habits. She showed up at her appointed time for a session with new cutie-pie and dom Henry (Mark Trottier). Huh, who knew washing dishes could be so uh … stimulating?

We have reached the halfway mark of Mohawk Girls‘ season! What do you think is going to happen in the second half? Is Anna going to get past this hot mess stage of hers and find her new Thunder? What are your thoughts of the budding Caitlin/Leon/Butterhead triangle? Who do you think is worthy of Caitlin’s heart? Is Zoe going to win her election, or will her dependence on the sexual thrill be her downfall? And what about Bailey? Will Watio (Jimmy Blais) really be supportive with her learning French, especially when he finds out James is helping his fiancée? Let me know in the comments below!

Mohawk Girls can be seen Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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